Heating-furnace.



PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

0. w. BRAY HEATING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1901.

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PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

C. W. BRAY. HEATING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19. 1901.

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PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented June 28, 1904.

PATENT ()FFICE.

CHARLES W. BRAY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG'NOR TO AMERICAN SHEET AND TIN PLATE COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEIV JERSEY.

HEATING-FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,847, dated June 28, 1904.

Application filed March 19, 1901. Serial No. 51,834. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLns WV. BRAY, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Heating-Furnace, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,

in which Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of my improved furnace, taken on the line X X of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 isa vertical cross-section on the irregular line 11 II of Fig. 3; and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of my improved furnace, the left-hand half being shown in horizontal section.

My invention relates to the heating of metal, and particularly to the reheating of plates and sheets, such as the packs formed in the reduction of black plates and sheets for tinning; and its object is to provide a furnace in which the heat shall be applied evenly and uniformly to the metal while resting upon an endless carrier, preferably of annular form.

A further object is to provide for an automatic intermittent movement of the carrier, which moves step by step, allowing the insertion of a series of sheets during each interval of rest.

In the drawings, 2 represents an annular table or platform, which may be formed of metal plates or castings carried on brackets 3, the inner ends of which are secured to the vertical shaft 4;. The table is divided into compartments or chambers by radial partitions 5, and blocks .or supports may be provided on the table, where the sheets or packs are laid horizontally, though I prefer to set the packs in a vertical or slanting position between and resting against the partitions. This annular support or carrier is inclosed within a square or rectangular furnace structure having at'the front a gas-supply branch 6, leading from the gas-main 7 and controlled by a valve 8. This gas-supply channel leads downwardly into a chamber 9, containing a grate or fireplace l0 and between which and the annular fire-chamber 11 is a hollow bridgewall 12. The bridge-wall is provided with a series of upwardly-directed air-ports 13, communicating with its cavity, and from either end of the cavity lead horizontal air-flues 14, which connect at their opposite ends with airflues 15, located above them in the side walls and connecting with the open air through ports 16. 4 1

The products of combustion after passing through the heating-chamber enter ports 17, leading into a horizontal channel 18, which connects at both ends with horizontal flues 19 outside of and parallel with the air fines. The ends of the fines 19 connect with parallel upper gas-fines 20, which at their opposite ends connect with stack-fines 21, leading to the common stack 22. By this double-surface regenerator system the air entering the furnace passes. forward through the upper air-fines, thence backward into the second and lower air-fines, and thence to the hollow bridge-wall, and in this tortuous course the air is heated by the outgoing gases, which are also given a tortuous course in the opposite direction on their way to the stack.

To hold the heat and gases within the furnace-chamber, the annular carrier or platform preferably overlaps a circular ledge 23, extending around the platform, and its inner edge similarly overlaps a refractory ledge 24, extending laterally from a refractory cylinder 25, surrounding a metal cylinder 26, depending centrally within the furnace-chamber and carried on I-beams or suitable supports 27. The central shaft extends upwardly through this cylinder and through a bearing in the top plate 28, and to its upper end is secured a worm-wheel 29, engaged by worm 30 on shaft 31, having a clutch connection 32 with a driven pulley 33, loosely mounted on this shaft. The clutch member is drawn forward by spring 34, so as to engage the other clutch member and cause a rotation of the shaft. .To the top of the worm-wheel are secured a series of pins 35, which are arranged to engage a springpressed pin 36, extending through a bearing in bell-crank lever 37, pivoted to the top plate of the furnace. The other arm of this bellcrank lever is connected by link 38 with a lever 89, pivoted to the frame of the furnace at 40 and forked at its other end to engage the clutch member of the worm-shaft, engaging a pin projecting from a collar carried in a groove on this clutch member.

In the operation of the furnace, the pulley being constantly rotated, the annular support will be turned within the furnace-chamber until one of the pins on the worm-wheel engages the spring-pressed pin on the bell-crank lever. The bell-crank lever will then be swung and will swing the clutch-lever, so as to disengage the clutch in opposition to the action of the spring. After the clutch-teeth have thus been disengaged movement of the carrier will cease until the operator pulls the cord 43 and draws back the pin, thus allowing the spring to throw in the clutch, the pin then being in position to engage the next pin in the carrier. The spring will then immediately snap the clutch into closed position and rotation will take place until the next pin is reached, when the carrier will again stop automatically. During the periods of rest the operator removes a heated pack from a compartment of the-carrier through the opening 41 and inserts a new pack in its place. Each pack thus passes through the entire circuit of the carrier before its removal and is thus evenly and thoroughly heated. In starting the operation of the furnace a fire is started upon the grate and continued until a draft is set up, when the gas is admitted and the fire allowed to die out. During this operation of the furnace the heat of the outgoing productsis-utilized in heating the incoming air and an economical operation thus afforded. The heated air passing up through the bridge-wall unites with the gas entering through the port above this bridge-wall and gives an even and intense flame.

Many changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the furnace, the carrier, and the driving connections without departing from my invention.

I claim 1. A metal-heating furnace, comprising a horizontal rotary carrier, an unobstructed heating-chamber over said carrier, heating means at one side of said carrier, and arranged to deliver products of combustion on the upper side of said carrier, an outlet for waste products of combustion at the opposite side of said carrier, an air-inlet flue, extending through the walls of the furnace to said heating means, and a stack-flue leading from said outlet and arranged adjacent to said air-inlet flue, substantially as described.

2. A metal-heating furnace having a rotary carrier, means for driving said carrier, and a stop mechanism, comprising detents, revoluble with said carrier, and a clutch for said driving means, having a controlling member movably arranged in the path of said detents, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

C. IV. BRAY. Witnesses:

H. M. CoRWIN, GEO. B. BLEMING. 

